This is actually an upgrade from the Romanian League imo, even with FIFA suspension to Russia. I was actually hoping to see Denil upgrade Leagues this summer and this is close enough imo Manfred Ugalde is arguably the best player for Costa Rica right now and he plays in this league
Yeah the Russian league is definitely an upgrade, as you say even despite the sanctions. Tons of Latinos currently play there, I'm pretty sure Rubin Kazan once beat Barca in the Champions League group stage, they definitely had a few good seasons, I remember.
Goodness me, I've just watched the highlights. The gulf between the abilities is stark. Even if we played our best you would never see us score goals like that. It's as has been pointed out, the Canadians are basically able to properly control and pass the ball in the final third. I don't know how we'll ever be able catch up and bridge that technical gap with emerging footballing nations, like Canada.
Canada have solidified themselves as a top nation in Concacaf and that isn’t going to change, they are an international country like the USA and will have plenty of talent around the world that they can pull from. Our only option is to export talent while they either young or in their best form, but seemingly we are not capable of doing that on a consistent basis. The Panamanian League imo is not better than ours (their teams really don’t make any noise in Concacaf) and yet they still manage to get players abroad.
They invested in their youth sectors in Panama. Something we have never done. It's really night and day between our Liga Menores and theirs. Also Thomas Christensen is a more modern technician than Rueda. So again, potential is being maximized.
It's hard for me to blame Rueda when he's so spot on with the criticism of himself and the team. https://www.diez.hn/copa-oro/reinal...-copa-oro-vancauver-estados-unidos-FB26278872
Yeah I think that's a good point. Not taking away from Rueda's successes but they've been in COMNEBOL. As you say Marsch, Christenson, Poche. As well as a large chunk of these players are developed with a European philosophy. It's too late in the game to be talking changing managers but Rueda looks tired man. Not from his age just spent from these guys, ha.
On the other hand, as teams have progressed it's like we've stagnated. I don't think it's solely down to the manager, you could have Pepe there and you're still trying to get blood out of a stone. The generation just isn't there, as much as we try to think/hope they're of a different calibre.
It's crazy how you see the tactical principles he talks about in this video, be put to use during the game in Vancouver. Rueda stood zero chance against poor ole Jesse Marsch, who for the record, goes into detail a bit about the flaws of his set-up in this video as well when he says things like pressing triggers based on feels and asymmetric defensive positioning... We need to hire a modern coach after Rueda... None of this Pinto and Troglio bullshít, using buzzwords like "disciplinado" "orden".. this isn't the fúcking military. Hire someone whose futbol philosophy is tapped into the 21st century!
It's not going to happen, we hope, but let's say it did and we were eliminated in the group stage would you want to replace Rueda?
Absolutely. Will it happen? Doubtful.. firing your coach two months before World Cup Qualifying is less than ideal.
Fed is too cheap to go after a serious candidate not to mention that they are stuck in their ways and will refuse to modernize, we will just try to go after other Coaches who will be let go of their positions after the WC. bet money on them trying to go after one of the Conmebol HC with Gustavo Alfaro likely being the head candidate if he leaves Paraguay.
Surely there's some American managers that fit the modern mould? They might even be cheaper than a "big" South American name. In fairness, didn't ES try bring in some Spanish coach and he didn't last. Without real investment, from the ground up then bringing in any manager isn't going to do much. Ironically, I think Coito had a bit more of a bit picture vision.
They need someone that can reform the entire program down to the U20/U17, it’s frustrating that we have the talent to consistently qualify to youth WC especially at the U20 level but the fed does a piss poor job of actually preparing the team for international competition.
Achieving development isn't easy The thing is, not enough decent youngsters are given a shot. Alexy Vega is 28 and he's only breaking in now. Now look at Guatemala, playing Olger Escobar, 18, and calling other US born prospects up. Costa Rica do the same with their domestic players Alcocer, Madrigal, Mitchell, look where they are now. If what we had was working, then of course, there's less reason to go with the unknown but the reality is what we have now is most definitely not keeping apace with how other teams are developing. It diminishes our ability to export players, as European teams aren't interested once players are above a certain age range. Then we have to resort to a pool of domestic players who aren't up to the rigour and tactical awareness of modern elite football.
Cuanta razón tenía Nahum. pic.twitter.com/F9VVLVkZ8z— La H | Selección Nacional de Honduras 🆇 (@LaHSomosTodosTV) June 20, 2025
The worst part about all of this, is the fact that we have young players littered across the globe, literally, from Richard Martinez at Girona, to Yohanner at Zaragoza... Honduras federation is just too stupid and broke to regularly call them up for assignments with the youth national teams. We have hundreds of players scattered among MLS academies... But it's simply a tale as old as time.. we think these Liga Nacional kids are better.. Argolla.
Rumors now that Levante are also interested in Kervin Arriaga, that two La Liga teams now that he has been linked to.
Canada just tied Curaçao, idc if Canada threw the bench for this game it’s still even more embarrassing for us now.
That goal came from a full transition of play.. both fullbacks managed to get wide enough that the wingers tucked inside and created an overload in the half spaces.. A couple passes later, Quioto runs freely thru the channel onto goal and makes it count... We've not been able to do that at all.
Ngl, Luis Santamaria Crisanto was a marginal upgrade from El Buho at right back at best, but at least he got forward.
So if we lose we're out, if we WIN we get the red hot Panama... Fuggit, what we got to lose. Let's go cause some upsets.